City's Plan To Stop Accepting AIP Funds Flawed
Oceanside Municipal Airport in
Southern California isn't going anywhere -- it will remain open in
perpetuity. Representatives with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots
Association tell Aero-News the FAA made that crystal clear last
week in a letter to Oceanside Mayor Jim Wood.
"Over the years, some Oceanside officials have been trying to
let the airport go quietly. They're claiming to 'improve' the
airport, but in actuality, they're laying plans to close the
airport in 20 years," said AOPA Vice President of Airports Bill
Dunn. "Anti-airport activists and developers should take the FAA's
proactive stance to ensure the facility's future viability as a
sign to back off."
"AOPA and the FAA see right through their scheme," Dunn
added.
Below is Oceanside's plan, which was approved in November
2006:
- Build 40 new hangars on the south side of the airport to
increase $3.9 million in revenue for the airport enterprise
fund
- Pursue nonaviation-related commercial development on the north
side
- Reject all federal Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds in
order to close the airport in 20 years when the current grant
obligations expire
And therein lies the problem with
Oceanside's 'scheme', as termed by AOPA: the airport cannot be
closed -- ever -- because part of the airport's property (roughly
14 acres on the north side) was purchased with federal money
specifically for airport development.
"When you take FAA funds for land acquisition, the grant
obligates the entire airport, not just that bought with FAA
funding," Dunn pointed out.
Brian Armstrong, Manager of the Los Angeles Airports District
Office for the FAA, agrees.
"Choosing not to accept additional AIP funds or making an offer
to repay past AIP grants will not change the city's federal
obligation to keep the airport open indefinitely," Armstrong
wrote.
The FAA acknowledged there have been exceptions to the policy...
but only when those closures would bring a greater benefit to the
aviation industry, such as the opening of a newer airport nearby.
That's not the case with Oceanside.
"Because of the important role that this airport plays, the FAA
does not anticipate granting any request for release to allow
closure of the airport," the agency said, adding that its stance
would not change now or in the future.
Ever helpful, the FAA also made recommendations as to how the
city could better spend its time on airport planning.
- Use the north side of the airport (which must be used for
aviation purposes) to build 100 hangars, generating more than $12
million over 25 years
- Continue to accept AIP funds to keep the airport
functioning
"We hope the city officials understand that their futile
attempts to close this airport will not succeed," Dunn said. "We
stand ready to help the city invest in their airport in order to
reap the maximum economic benefit of having a world-class
facility."